Shelf Life Tips
- How long do pears last? The precise answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - after purchasing, keep pears in a dry area.
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Properly stored, pears will become fully ripe in about 1 to 4 days at normal room temperature.
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How can you make pears ripen faster? To hasten ripening, put pears in a brown paper bag, close it and leave on the counter.
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Do not refrigerate pears until they are fully ripe - allowing to ripen at room temperature will result in more flavorful, juicy pears.
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To extend the shelf life of fully ripe pears, place in a plastic bag and refrigerate; for best results, bring the pears back to room temperature before using.
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How long do pears last in the refrigerator? Fully ripe pears will last for about 5 to 7 days in the fridge.
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Can you freeze raw pears? Yes: (1) Wash, core and slice pears; (2) In a saucepan, combine 2 3/4 cups sugar and 4 cups water, mix until the solution is clear, and bring to a boil; (3) Heat pears in the boiling syrup for 1 to 2 minutes, depending on the size of the slices; (4) Drain and cool; (5) Place pears and syrup in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
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How long do pears last in the freezer? Properly stored, they will maintain best quality for about 10 to 12 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - pears that have been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How to tell if pears are bad or spoiled? Pears that are spoiling will typically become very soft, develop dark spots and start to ooze; discard any pears if mold appears or if the pears have an off smell or appearance.
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Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
